Chapter 3: The Photographs in Derek's Phone
Derek laughed.
It was the wrong reaction.
Not nervous laughter.
Not the awkward laugh of someone trying to explain a misunderstanding.
He laughed as though Lily had just told an amusing story.
"That's ridiculous," he said.
Officer Collins held out his hand.
"Sir, may I see your phone?""
Derek frowned.
"Why?""
"We're investigating a report involving a child.""
"You're not taking my phone.""
Collins remained calm.
"Nobody has said we're taking it. I'm asking whether you'll cooperate.""
Derek looked toward Vanessa.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
I saw it.
So did Bennett.
"Mr. Collins," I said quietly, "I want to know what my daughter is talking about.""
Collins nodded.
"We'll handle this properly.""
Derek put his phone in his pocket.
"She's lying. She makes up stories whenever she's disciplined.""
Lily's fingers tightened around mine.
I crouched.
"Sweetheart, you don't have to explain anything to him.""
She nodded.
Then she looked toward Derek.
"He takes pictures when I cry.""
Derek rolled his eyes.
"Oh, for heaven's sake.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"They were for her behavior chart.""
I stared at her.
"Her behavior chart?""
"Yes. We were documenting her tantrums.""
"By photographing her crying?""
"She needed to understand that her behavior had consequences.""
I felt the room tilt.
Bennett asked, "Where are those photographs?""
Vanessa looked at Derek.
He didn't answer.
Margaret suddenly spoke.
"There's no need to turn this into something criminal.""
Collins turned toward her.
"Ma'am, please don't interrupt.""
Margaret pressed her handbag against her side.
"I have known Derek for years. He's a good man.""
I looked at her.
"Then why did Lily just hide behind me when he walked into the room?""
Margaret's lips tightened.
"Children can become attached to one parent and resent anyone who disciplines them.""
"She is eight.""
"That doesn't make her incapable of lying.""
The words landed like a slap.
I looked at Lily.
She was staring at the floor.
Her shoulders were drawn inward.
I knelt beside her.
"Sweetheart, look at me.""
She raised her eyes.
"You're not in trouble.""
She nodded.
"Nothing you tell us will make me stop loving you.""
Her bottom lip trembled.
Then she whispered:
"Vanessa said the pictures were proof that nobody wanted me.""
My chest tightened.
"What?""
Lily looked toward the living room.
"She said when you saw them, you'd know I was a bad girl.""
I closed my eyes.
Behind me, Derek muttered something.
Bennett turned.
"Sir, I need you to stop making comments.""
Derek threw his hands up.
"This is insane.""
Collins asked him again for his phone.
This time, Derek refused more forcefully.
"I have private business information on there.""
"Then we'll follow the appropriate procedures.""
Derek looked at Vanessa.
She looked back.
And in that brief exchange, I saw something I had never noticed during the weeks they had spent around me.
They weren't simply familiar.
They were frightened of each other.
Or of what the other person might reveal.
Bennett stepped into the hallway to speak with dispatch.
Collins remained with Derek.
I took Lily into the kitchen.
The Christmas cookies were still cooling on the counter.
A bowl of icing sat beside a plate of gingerbread stars.
One cookie had a bite missing.
I looked at Lily.
"Did you make these?""
She nodded.
"Yesterday.""
"Who helped you?""
"Nobody.""
I picked up a small gingerbread star.
Its icing had run down one side.
There was a tiny red candy in the center.
"That's beautiful.""
She looked at it.
"Vanessa said they weren't good enough for the guests.""
I put the cookie down.
"Did you eat dinner?""
She shook her head.
"Why not?""
"I wasn't allowed.""
"Why?""
"Because I spilled the wine.""
I glanced toward the dining room.
There was a full table set for three adults.
Three plates.
Three glasses.
Three folded napkins.
No place for Lily.
I opened the refrigerator.
There was a container of leftover pasta, some fruit, and a carton of milk.
I warmed the pasta.
Lily sat at the kitchen island.
She watched me carefully.
"Can I have some?""
I stopped stirring.
"Of course.""
"Even though I made a mess?""
I turned off the stove.
Then I walked over and held her face gently.
"You never have to earn food in this house.""
Her eyes filled.
I kissed her forehead.
"Never.""
She ate slowly.
After a few bites, she looked up.
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"Are you staying tonight?""
I sat beside her.
"Yes.""
"Tomorrow too?""
"Yes.""
"What about Monday?""
I took her hand.
"I'm not leaving you with someone who hurts you.""
She looked down at her plate.
"Vanessa said you always come back.""
I didn't know what to say.
Because I had always come back.
But I had also always left.
And for a little girl, those two things were not the same.
A few minutes later, Bennett entered the kitchen.
"Mr. Reed, we need to discuss the next steps.""
I stood.
"What's happening?""
"We're arranging for Lily to be medically assessed. We'll also need statements from everyone involved.""
"Can she stay with me?""
"At this stage, that's something we need to establish through the appropriate safeguarding process. We'll make sure she's protected tonight.""
I nodded.
"Whatever you need.""
Bennett looked toward Lily.
"Would you be comfortable speaking with a specialist? Someone who talks to children when something frightening happens?""
She looked at me.
I nodded.
"She'll be there to help you.""
Lily considered that.
Then she asked:
"Will she tell Vanessa what I say?""
Bennett crouched.
"She'll explain what can and cannot be shared. Her job is to help you feel safe.""
Lily nodded.
"Okay.""
Then Bennett lowered his voice.
"There's something else, Mr. Reed.""
I followed him into the hallway.
He showed me a message on his phone.
It was a photograph of a page from the notebook upstairs.
The final entry had been written in darker ink.
Christmas Eve. If Marcus returns early, maintain the story. Lily is unstable. Do not let her speak alone.
I stared at the words.
"Who wrote this?""
"According to the notebook, Mrs. Reed.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was sitting rigidly on the sofa.
Derek stood near the fireplace.
Margaret had taken a seat beside her daughter.
Three adults.
One child.
And somehow, all three adults had been preparing for the possibility that the father might come home.
I felt a cold anger rise inside me.
"Why would she write that?""
Bennett didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"We're trying to establish whether this was an isolated incident or part of a longer pattern.""
I looked at Lily.
She was still eating her pasta.
She had tucked one leg beneath herself on the kitchen chair.
For the first time since I entered the house, she seemed slightly less frightened.
I wanted to preserve that moment.
I wanted to take her somewhere warm, buy her a new dress, and spend the rest of Christmas holding her hand.
But I couldn't pretend the danger had disappeared.
Not yet.
Bennett returned to the living room.
"Mrs. Reed, we need you to come with us for a formal interview.""
Vanessa stood.
"You're arresting me?""
"That's not what I said.""
She turned toward me.
"Marcus, please. Tell them this is unnecessary.""
I looked at her.
"You threw wine at an eight-year-old girl.""
"She spilled it!""
"Then you hit her?""
"I was disciplining her!""
"Then why did she tell me she was afraid of you before I even asked?""
Vanessa's face hardened.
"Because you have spoiled her.""
I stared.
She continued.
"You've made her believe she can do whatever she wants. Someone had to teach her boundaries.""
I took a breath.
"She's a child, Vanessa. Not your employee.""
Derek suddenly stepped forward.
"That's enough. You're acting like she's some kind of victim.""
Collins moved between us.
"Sir, step back.""
Derek pointed toward Lily.
"She's been doing this for months. Crying, refusing to listen, trying to turn Vanessa against me.""
Lily dropped her fork.
The small sound echoed through the kitchen.
I turned toward her.
She was staring at Derek.
Her face had gone pale.
"What is it, sweetheart?""
She didn't answer.
Then she looked at me.
"Daddy, can I tell you something?""
"Anything.""
She leaned closer.
"There's a video.""
Bennett turned.
"What video?""
Lily looked down.
"Derek recorded me in the garage.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Because I was crying.""
"How long ago?""
"Last Tuesday.""
"Do you know what's on it?""
She nodded.
"Vanessa told him to make me say I wanted to live with Grandma.""
I looked toward Margaret.
Her face changed.
Derek immediately shook his head.
"That's not true.""
Lily continued.
"They said if I said it on the video, Daddy would think I didn't love him.""
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Margaret stood.
"That's enough, Lily.""
I turned toward her.
"Sit down.""
She stared at me.
"Excuse me?""
"Sit down.""
Bennett raised a hand.
"Mr. Reed, please.""
I stepped back.
Lily was trembling again.
I crouched beside her.
"You don't have to say anything else right now.""
She nodded.
But she wasn't finished.
She looked toward the officers.
"There's another video.""
Bennett spoke gently.
"Where is it?""
"In Derek's phone.""
Collins turned toward Derek.
"Sir, I need you to come with me.""
Derek shook his head.
"No.""
"Please.""
"I'm not going anywhere.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"Just give him the phone, Derek!""
He spun toward her.
"Shut up!""
The entire room went silent.
Vanessa stepped backward.
Derek looked at the officers.
Then at me.
For the first time, he seemed to understand that the situation was no longer something he could control with a few dismissive words.
Collins escorted him toward the front door while Bennett continued documenting the scene.
I stayed with Lily.
She reached across the kitchen island and took my hand.
"Daddy?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Will you still love me if you see the video?""
I stared at her.
"What kind of question is that?""
She swallowed.
"Because I look ugly when I cry.""
I felt my eyes burn.
I pulled her into my arms.
"You could cry every day for the rest of your life, and I would love you every single day.""
She buried her face against my shoulder.
I held her until her breathing slowed.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
But the message contained a photograph.
It showed Lily standing in the garage.
Her hands were raised.
Her face was wet with tears.
Across the bottom of the picture were three words.
*SHE KNOWS NOTHING.*
A second message arrived.
*Ask your wife what happened to Emma's money.*
I read it twice.
Emma.
My first wife.
Lily's mother.
She had died four years earlier.
And I had never told Vanessa where Emma's inheritance was kept.
I looked toward the living room.
Vanessa was watching me.
Her expression had changed.
Not frightened.
Not angry.
Something else.
Recognition.
I turned my phone toward her.
"What's this about Emma's money?""
Vanessa's face went completely white.
May you like
And from the front hallway, Margaret whispered:
"Vanessa, you told me he would never find out.""
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